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Houston celebrates 'Incredible India'
The US' fourth largest city has chosen India as the 'spotlight' nation in this year's festival, writes S Rajagopalan.
A Taj Mahal in downtown Houston? Sudarsan Patnaik, an accomplished sand artist from Orissa, has just created one, working with 25 tons of Texas sand.
Patnaik's 20-foot replica of the Taj is a big draw at the famed Houston International Festival, which this year showcases India. So is a 20-foot replica of a gopuram (tower) created by the Sri Meenakshi Temple.
Houston, the US' fourth largest city, has chosen India as the "spotlight" nation in this 34th year of the festival. The reason? "Because India is emerging as a major economic player," says festival president Jim Austin.
The sights, smells and sounds of India dominate the “Incredible India Zone” at the centre of the 16-acre complex that came alive on Saturday after a joint inauguration by Houston's Mayor Bill White and Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen.
Visitors were treated to the “Royal Indian Parade”, a replication of sorts of Mysore's famous Dusserah procession. On view was a 17-foot tall decorated chariot with over 250 dancers from the local Indian community performing to the beat of drums.
With over 100,000 Indian Americans in the Greater Houston area, the festival authorities could all along count on immigrants' enthusiasm. Members of a Hindu temple in Houston chipped in to put into shape an elaborate “swan gate” that graces the festival's India zone.
The pull of Bollywood is obvious from the special place accorded to it by the organisers. Mock filming of dance sequences, musical extravaganzas, Bhangra beats, classical dance performances, fashion shows and Indian culinary delights will all be there on both weekends of the festival, say the organisers.
“We're very excited to highlight India this year, especially since Houston has a very large Indian and South Asian community,” festival chairman Robert T Sakowitz said.
At a business conference, held alongside the festival, Ambassador Sen touched on the recent US-India agreement on energy dialogue and space collaboration, remarking that Houston, being the US's “energy capital and premier space centre”, will have a lot to contribute on both these fronts.
The showcasing of India at the festival was said to be the result of two years of preparations initiated by Indian Consul General Skand Tayal along with the festival officials.
